Jasper counts homeless population

Stephanie Ingersoll

Wednesday

Feb 2, 2011 at 10:45 AM

You might not see them sleeping on park benches or under bridges too often, but there is little doubt that Jasper County has its share of homeless.The challenge is finding them.Last week, on Jan. 27, agencies across Jasper County took park in the 2011 Point In Time Homeless Count.The goal is to find out just how many homeless there are in Jasper County so agencies can provide resources and help.Coordinated by CONTACT ACCESS, the count included information from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Department of Veterans Affair and the Department of Health and Human Services, among others.Forms were sent asking for the identity of homeless individuals and families and where they are currently staying. Those forms had to be submitted by Jan. 29 but have not been tabulated yet, said CONTACT ACCESS coordinator Barbara Edwards.Schools were also asked to help identify any homeless families as was the Jasper County Hunger Free Zone.Patricia Goings of the Jasper County Hunger Free Zone said her agency could not track any homeless, but that likely isn't because there are none. Some people simply don't seek help or are too embarrassed to admit their circumstances, she said.Most homeless are not found sleeping under newspapers in the Lowcountry, but don't have stable housing either.Edwards said the homeless definition includes anyone who is chronically homeless without stable housing for a year or has had four occurrences of homeless (for a day, week or any period) in the last three years.Many might bounce from friends' or families homes but have no steady shelter to call their own. The count also includes those living in a structure not fit for human habitation because of no plumping, electricity or protection from the elements.The study is meant to be a "snap shot count" in time and happens on one day every two years.Edwards said there are no preliminary figures available yet. The count includes the whole state, broken down by county, and will be tabulated in the upstate. They will be released when the study is complete.

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